All Latest News articles – Page 326
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News
ACS calls for rates change
The Association of Convenience Stores has called for an overhaul of business rates increases after the results of its latest survey revealed the destructive impact that unpredictable rate hikes are having on local shops. The quarterly Voice of Local Shops survey, which tracks the sales and confidence of small stores, has shown that the impending increase in business rates is more of a concern now than it has been at any point since the start of 2012. Forty five per cent of retailers in the last survey cited business rates as a major obstacle to success for their store – more than those concerned about crime, taxation and obtaining finance combined. ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “If the Government wants to have a long-term positive impact on small businesses across the UK, they must cap the rates increase at 2% - bringing it in line with the council tax cap and the Government’s own targets for inflation. Allowing these unpredictable hikes to continue will send a clear message that the Chancellor has failed to recognise the importance of the retail economy.” When asked what they most wanted from the Chancellor’s Budget, convenience store retailers called for a reduction in the annual business rates increase, but also for action to reduce the level of VAT, currently set at 20%. The survey also revealed that 47% of stores have seen a decrease in profits over the last quarter, with 32% claiming that they have had to cut the number of staff hours in their business.
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PRA wins emergency planning overhaul
The PRA has won a significant victory in its campaign for the Government to overhaul of the National Emergency Plan – Fuels (NEP–F) scheme.Under the scheme there are about 700 Designated Filling Station (DFS) sites across England, Scotland and Wales which would receive road fuels supplies under emergency conditions.However, during ...
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Funding to encourage electric vehicle fleets
Energy Saving Trust (EST) is looking to boost the take-up of electric vehicles with the announcement it will be offering 100 organisations in England a free analysis of their fleets to see if and how electric vehicles will work for them. The initiative, funded by the Office for Low Emission ...
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Fuel discount deal for RHA and FTA members
Discounted fuel is being made available to members of the Road Haulage Association and Freight Transport Association through a new joint fuel card from The Fuelcard Company.Operating on the Keyfuels network, which covers one in five of all UK petrol filling stations, the new RHA FTA fuel card can be ...
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New drink-drive campaign
A £50,000 pint of beer was unveiled in London today as part of the Government’s latest Think! campaign highlighting the consequences of a drink-drive conviction.The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has calculated the personal financial cost of drink-driving for the first time, pricing it between £20,000 and £50,000. The calculation ...
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Blitz on red tape welcomed
The National Federation Retail Newsagents (NFRN) has welcomed the news that accounting requirements for micro-businesses are to simplified as part of the government’s latest blitz on red tape.Responding to the announcement from business minister Jo Swinson, NFRN national president Alan Smith said: “Red tape places an unnecessary and unwelcome burden ...
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PRA stages forum in Belfast
The PRA’s next Regional Forum is being held in Belfast on Thursday 21 March.The event is taking place at Maldron Hotel (formerly Park Plaza), Belfast International Airport, with coffee available from 10am, and a free buffet lunch will be provided.Topics on the agenda include: PRA - Deloitte study into UK ...
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Roadchef awards £60m contract to Blakemore Wholesale
Roadchef has awarded a contract worth £60m over five year to Blakemore Wholesale.The contract is to provide a range of confectionery, grocery and chilled foods, tobacco and motor oils to forecourt stores and WH Smith shops at 37 Roadchef sites at 27 motorway service areas across Britain.Blakemore Wholesale managing director ...
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Grangemouth tanker driver dispute settled
Unite tanker drivers at Scotland’s only oil refinery in Grangemouth have called off industrial action after settling their dispute with BP.The drivers had already staged a three-day strike, and were due to begin a four-day stoppage on Thursday February 28.Following negotiations, the oil company will now recompense tanker drivers who, ...
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Diesel thieves caught in the act
Intruders who siphoned off thousands of pounds worth of diesel from a petrol filling site were caught in the act by police after sudden loss alarms tipped off staff.The theft took place at Forest Lane Service Station, on the A614 near Calverton, Nottinghamshire, which is owned by Brobot Petroleum, the ...
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Morrisons acquires six HMV stores
Morrisons has added to its portfolio of sites to be converted to its M convenience store format with the purchase of six HMV stores from the company’s administrators, Deloitte.The purchase comes just over a week after the supermarket group bought 49 Blockbuster stores and shortly before that acquired seven former ...
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AA gears up for ’unlucky’ 13 number plate
The AA says its patrols will be on heightened alert as new cars with the latest 13 number plates begin to roll off the UK’s forecourts after midnight on Thursday, to ensure it is not unlucky 13 for new owners.Traditionally, some new car owners have to call out the AA ...
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Esso offers Tesco Clubcard points at alliance sites
Exxon Mobil has introduced Tesco Clubcard points on fuel at the Esso sites it runs jointly with the supermarket group, and is looking to roll out the loyalty scheme to its wider service station network, including dealer owned sites. There are 198 Esso-Tesco Alliance service stations in the UK, featuring ...
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Emergency relaxation of fuel tanker driver rules
The Department for Transport has announced a temporary, and limited, emergency relaxation of rules governing tanker drivers in reaction to the industrial action at Grangemouth refinery in Scotland. The temporary relaxation currently applies until 23:59 on Thursday 28 February 2013 and will apply only to drivers involved in the delivery ...
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Eurogarages to convert Little Chefs to Starbucks
Petrol forecourt operator EuroGarages has taken on the leases of five former Little Chefs for conversion to coffee shops under a licensing arrangement with Starbucks. The lettings were brokered by specialist property adviser Christie & Co.The sites — Hailsham in East Sussex, Wirral, Wansford in Cheshire, Wrexham and Worksop — ...
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Supermarket fuel discounts should face axe, says PRA
The initiative by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) that will see supermarkets stick to helping shoppers with lower grocery pricing instead of subsidising fuel offers is music to the ears of all our small, often family-owned and run, petrol filling stations, according to Brian Madderson, chairman of the ...
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RHA calls for action on duty
The UK’s road transport operators are calling on the Chancellor to address the issue of high duty levels on fuel in next month’s Budget as prices approach an all-time high. According to the Road Haulage Association’s latest weekly fuel survey on 25th February, diesel is less than one penny off ...
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Madderson urges cancellation of September duty rise
With pump prices set to continue rising, the Chancellor must take swift action in the Budget on March 20 to cancel the proposed duty rise in September and cut this damaging tax which restricts economic recovery and adds to inflation, according to Brian Madderson, chairman of the Petrol Retailers’ ...
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Tanker drivers tell BP ’to do the right thing’
Unite tanker drivers at Grangemouth have told BP ‘to do the right thing’ over cuts to pay and pensions and are preparing for a long battle as 72 hours of strike action started at 4am this morning (Friday, February 22). With workers manning the picket line and up to 10 ...
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PRA concerned by tanker driver action
The strike threat by tanker drivers at Grangemouth oil refinery in Scotland is seriously concerning the petrol retailing industry, as echoes of the chaos caused by a similar situation last March emerge. Unite said its members at the Forth estuary facility will walk out for three days from today in ...